The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs

by Betty G. Birney, Matt Phelan (Illustrator)

Life in Sassafras Springs has always been predictable, boring even, but one afternoon that changes when Eben McAllister's pa challenges him to find Seven Wonders in Sassafras that rival the real Seven Wonders of the World. The reward? An adventure that Eben's been craving -- a trip to Colorado.

Even doesn't think he'll have any luck -- he can't think of one single thing that could be considered wondrous in Sassafras -- but he's willing to try. Little does he know that the Wonders he'll discover among his neighbors, friends, relatives, and family will give him the adventure of a lifetime...without ever leaving his home.

Genres: Historical Fiction, Fiction, Middle Grade, Childrens, Young Adult, Juvenile, Realistic Fiction

224 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1980

About the author

From kindergarten through graduation, I attended school in Affton, Missouri, a suburb of St. Louis. Then I graduated from Webster College (now Webster University) in Webster Groves, Missouri. Of course, I majored in English and kept on writing.

After working in advertising in St. Louis, Missouri and in Chicago, Illinois, I eventually moved to Southern California. First, I worked for Disneyland (fun job!) in the advertising department. The monorail whizzed past my window all day long. Then I worked at the Disney Studio in Burbank, where I had another fun job, writing and producing television and radio commercials and theatrical trailers (previews of coming attractions) for everything from re-releases of "Cinderella" and "Fantasia" to "Tex."

When the Disney Channel was started, I became a writer and story editor for WELCOME TO POOH CORNER. Since then, I've written more than 200 episodes of animated and live-action television programs including MADELINE, DOUG, BOBBY'S WORLD, DUMBO'S CIRCUS, THE PUZZLE PLACE, CAMP CANDY, LITTLE MOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, WHERE'S WALDO, FRAGGLE ROCK and ZOOBILEE ZOO. That's right, I write cartoons! I also wrote a number of award-winning afterschool specials and many interactive CD-ROM programs, including the award-winning "Berenstain Bears on their Own," "Richard Scarry's Busiest Neighborhood Ever," and "The Crayon Factory."

A made-for-television family movie I wrote, MARY CHRISTMAS, starring John Schneider, Cynthia Gibb and Tom Bosley, aired on the PAX network in 2002. It was the highest rated movie in PAX history and has aired each Christmas season since then.

I have been fortunate enough to win a Writer's Guild of America Award and three Humanitas Prizes (as well as two other nominations). In 2002, I won a Daytime Emmy Award for MADELINE, after two previous Emmy nominations. More recently, I received the Christopher Award for FRIENDSHIP ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY, many children's choice awards for THE WORLD ACCORDING TO HUMPHREY and was inducted into the Affton (MO) School District Hall of Fame.

Reviews

[H (trying to keep up with GR friends) Balikov · Rating 4 out of 5]

Set in rural Missouri during the 1920s, young Eben McAllister longs for the adventurous life that will allow him to see the “wonders” of the world.

I am grateful to my GR friend, Julie, for her enthusiastic discussion.

“The target age for this novel is 8-12 year olds, but I can tell you, I'm 42, and I liked it plenty.” https://www.goodreads.com/review/show...

Older even than Julie, I also was charmed by this book. I will post a more complete review when I read it with my granddaughter.

[Julie G · Rating 4 out of 5]

The target age for this novel is 8-12 year olds, but I can tell you, I'm 42, and I liked it plenty. Set in the 1920s, it is blessedly violence-free (save a few typical threats from an ornery neighbor and one growling dog).

I think the 3rd-7th grade crowd (boys and girls equally) would love this excellent story-telling, character development and humor.

It will stay in our family's library, even after the kids are grown.

Well done!

[Qt · Rating 4 out of 5]

A charming, fun little book! It wasn't predictable or cliched, and I liked how it always remained quite upbeat and cheerful, even though it occasionally touches on things like loneliness and disappointment. I like the ending, too, and each of the wonders of Sassafras Springs were intriguing. The "fantastical" element is also nicely done; while not strictly "realistic," the stories and miracles people talk about in the book add a pleasant, whimsical, and sometimes moving, touch.

[Jim · Rating 1 out of 5]

The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs by author Betty G. Birney is a heart-warming folk-tale that will inspire you to see more of what life has to offer you right around your own hometown. But only if you like drugged-out adventures with a ludicrous country bumpkin flare. This book is the equivalent of the Antiques Road Show meets Andy Griffith and Aunt Bee using a Ouija board to investigate the wacky stuff around Mayberry. Sound compelling? OK, I just made it sound way more interesting than it really is.

Eben is a young boy working on his dad's farm in Sassafras Springs, but he has a yearning to visit more of the world. He tells his dad that he desperately wants to visit the Seven Wonders of the World. This of course is impossible because his pa is just a poor ol' farmer and could never afford to help his youngster travel the globe. However, they do have a cousin in Colorado! Hot biscuits! Pa challenges Eben to find the wonders that exist in their very own town of Sassafras Springs. If Eben can pull it off in seven days, by golly Pa will get him a train ticket to go visit the fam' in Colorado. So Eben sets off on a mission to find the Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs. What he discovers will blow your mind. And if it doesn't, you'll feel like doing it yourself by the time you finish this book.

My initial reaction to the book is that it had good potential to teach a little lesson about loving your own home town and finding the wonder in the little things around you. Nope! Instead, what you get is an episode of Little House on the Prairie, except with Laura going off on acid-trips and coming back to Charles to detox while discussing her hallucinations. Good initial idea for a story, but terrible, undeveloped, stereo-typed characters, with a corny, hokey plot that becomes boring fast.

[Lonna Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

If any mid-grade novel can be perfect, this one is. When Eben, a farm boy in 1926 Sassafras Springs, Missouri sees nothing special in his one-horse town, he longs to leave and visit the Seven Wonders of the World he's read about in books: The Great Pyramids at Giza, Colossus of Rhodes, Statue of Zeus, Lighthouse at Alexandria, Mausoleum at Halicarnassus, Temple of Artemis, and The Hanging Gardens of Babylon. His pa challenges Eben to find seven wonders in his own backyard; and if he can, his pa will pay for Eben's trip to see relatives in the Colorado mountains. Some of the best stories Eben discovers come out of his neighbors' mouths as they reveal their "wonders" to him and forever change his viewpoint of the world. We would all do well to look for our own hidden wonders in front of our eyes.
*I want to use this book as a springboard to 7 Wonders Study and collect more recent world wonders, with "Ben's Dream" by Chris VanAllsburg as a guide. Then, have students research and decide on the 7 Wonders of our hometown.

[Judy · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.7

1923, small town Missouri

I'm not a fan of short stories or tall tales, yet I like this book. There's an over-arching story which encompasses 7 or 8 shorter stories, all with the 'flavor' of a tall tale. It works.

The story starts with an 11 year old boy who lives in the country and is feeling restless. One lazy evening, he's sitting on the front porch with his dad and aunt, looking thru a book about the Seven Wonders of the World, which inspires a conversation and a challenge. (Do people sit on their front porches anymore?)

I like the idea of being observant and aware of what's in your own backyard. If I'd been aware of this book when the kids were younger, I'm pretty sure I would have given them a similar challenge.

The ending gives the whole story a realistic spin.

[Abdelrhman Hafez · Rating 4 out of 5]

رواية لطيفة .. تبدأ ب الطفل إيبن وهو يعيش في قرية ساسافراس مع أبيه وعمته بيرتي .. كان إِيبن يحب القراءة وكان يمتلك كتاب كبير عن عجائب الدنيا السبع القديمة فانبهر بها وصار يحلم بالسفر واستكشاف العالم.، فوعده أبوه بأن يسافر في رحلة إِن تمكن من العثور على سبع عجائب في قريته الصغيرة حيث تبدو الأمور عادية جداً. في البدء بدا التحدي كبيراً جداً، لكن رحلة البحث عن العجائب مكنت إِيبن من اكتشاف عالمه الصغير وكذلك طبيعة الناس الذين يعيشون فيه، فخاض مجموعة من المغامرات التي لا تخلو من التشويق والتسلية والمفاجات غير المتوقعة مع كلبته الوفية سال وأصدقائه.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Absolutely charming little chapter book for youngsters to either read themselves (4th grade and up) or have read to them. A young boy from a Missouri farm town dreams of traveling to Colorado and seeing the world, but first, his father challenges him to find seven extraordinary things in his own town before agreeing to the trip. My 4th grade granddaughter begged me to read this story, and I really enjoyed it.

[Katie · Rating 3 out of 5]

A good old fashioned story, with the moral of: every place- no matter how ordinary, small, or boring- has something special to offer. Sometimes you just have to dig a little.

[Natalie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I kind of loved the whole idea of this book - a young boy, who really wants to travel and see the world, is told to find "seven wonders" in his small hometown.

I've always been a big believer that there are awesome things everywhere. That's a beautiful theme.
I loved how the whole town became interested. This is a 3/4 BOB book, so I won't be using it in my classroom (I'm in 5th) but it would be an awesome idea to look for "seven wonders" in your own classroom. I might just do that for my class without relating it to the book.

Some of the wonders include, an apple head doll, a bookcase, and a table. You'll have to read the book to find out why those things are so special! The "Buddy" sign was probably my favorite.

[Beth Given · Rating 4 out of 5]

Eben lives in the quiet, boring town of Sassafras Springs, but he longs for adventure: to explore the world and see its wonders. His Pa wisely challenges him to look for "wonders" right at home in Sassafras Springs, sweetening the invitation with a prize: if Eben can find seven wonders in seven days, he will be allowed to visit some cousins in Colorado, a big trip that Eben is excited about. But Eben is also skeptical -- could there really be any wonders in sleepy Sassafras Springs? Ultimately he discovers that there are plenty of wonderful things about his hometown, after all.

My nine-year-old and I read this aloud for Battle of the Books this year. He ended up a lot more interested and engaged than I thought he would be (when we finished, he gave this book four and a half stars, which skewed my rating up a little!). I did think the message of looking for small wonders in your everyday life was a sweet one.

[Tiffany Smart · Rating 5 out of 5]

Oh this one was so fun to read together!! So many opportunities for growing and learning! Spanish Flu, how looms work, why mules are sterile (🤣), what outhouses are and the story of the Trojan horse…

But seriously, such a delightful book to share with my 5 & 8 year old. Initially I was worried it was too advanced for them but they both gobbled it up and honestly so did I! What a beautiful and fun concept. I cried as we finished because it felt like we’d shared so many memories reading this book together. 💕

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book so much that I hugged it when I finished. The Seven Wonders of Sassafrass Springs was a bit old-fashioned feeling in the best way. It made me want to go out and find the wonders in my own small Missouri town.

[Helena Sorensen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Instant hit with the kids. A treat from start to finish.

[Amanda Edwards]

Re-read from my childhood. Still adorable

[Maggie Allyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such a sweet book. Great for the whole family ♥️

[Nancy Hollingsworth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Sweet. Read and listen to this one with your elementary age children.

[Margaret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a sweet middle grade book. I liked the wonders he found in his own neighborhood, each one was a little bit fantastic. It had a hint of magical realism with the stories from his neighbors. A charming little story!

[Elizabeth Reid · Rating 4 out of 5]

My littles and I read this one together and we all loved it.

[Tabi A · Rating 5 out of 5]

Okay this was a super cute children's book about finding wonders right in your own backyard! It definitely has an old-timey feel, I was surprised to find out it was written in 2005.

[Sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

“Sometimes extraordinary things begin in ordinary places.” This is the lesson that eleven-year-old Eben McAllister is about to learn. Living with his Aunt Pretty and his Pa in the small farming community of Sassafras Springs, Missouri, in 1923, he longs for adventure beyond the hum-drum routine of farming life and spends his free time perusing a book about the Seven Wonders of the World. There certainly isn’t anything that interesting around Sassafras Springs. Or is there? Pa challenges Eben to find seven wonders in Sassafras Springs in seven days, and if he does, he will earn a train ticket to visit relatives in Colorado. Eben can hardly believe it, and he excitedly agrees to the deal. Working on the farm doesn’t leave much time for searching, but Eben is determined to give the quest his best efforts.

Eben quickly discovers that not everyone takes kindly to his mission, and suddenly seven days seems like a rather short period of time. However, he and his faithful dog Sal travel all over the village inquiring about wonders, sometimes accompanied by Eben’s best friend, Jeb. Eben comes to realize that things are not always as they appear, and sometimes the most mundane objects actually have an astonishing story to tell. Along the way, he learns fascinating details about some of Sassafras Springs’ residents and the town’s past and discovers that maybe his hometown isn’t as lackluster as he always thought. As Pa says, it’s all a matter of perspective, and Eben’s is forever changed by his quest.

Infused with magical realism, Betty G. Birney’s “The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs” seamlessly blends a young boy’s coming-of-age with the tall tales typical of rural country life in this heartwarming children’s novel. Told in the first person from Eben’s point of view, the story bears the down-to-earth and often humorous language of a young boy who is growing up and who is eager to discover the world outside of his small birthplace. Delightful sketch illustrations add to the appeal of the narrative, which is divided into a chapter for each wonder and also subdivided into the story behind each wonder. “The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs” is a highly creative story that will enhance the reader’s imagination and lead to a greater appreciation of one’s roots, no matter where they have been planted. Don’t be surprised if your own perspective shifts after reading this charming story!

[Tarissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved the pleasurable, completely undignified way that the story (or rather... stories) play out in "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs".

When young Eben's father gives him a challenge to find 7 "Wonders" in their dusty little 1923 town of Sassafras Springs, Missouri, Eben isn't so sure that he can really discover that many Wonders. He only has been given 7 days to find these marvels, and he's quite sure that no Great Pyramid of Giza or Hanging Gardens of Babylon will be found in Sassafras Springs. If he successfully completes the challenge, Eben's father has promised him a special trip by train, all the way to Colorado. This would be the biggest thing to ever happen to Eben, a boy who has only been able to dream of traveling. Now his chance has arisen to get out of Missouri, and discover great things... but to do it, he has to explore his own turf further and deeper than he ever knew before.

Many of the tales that Eben comes across include some sort of whimsical imagination in order to listen to the old stories that country folks can tell. Some are a bit too far-fetched, but enjoyable. I had almost convinced myself to give this book 3 stars, but then I remembered the simple ways that the author added in a few words here and there about the Lord, singing in church, etc., and I felt satisfied in giving it a 4 star rating instead.

This is a cute book, and my younger brother absolutely loves it. I think no better words really describe it than the review given on the front cover, which says: "A fun, folksy outing." Truly, that explains "The Seven Wonders of Sassafras Springs" perfectly.

To leave you now with my favorite quote of the book, coming from the first chapter:

"I'll start tomorrow. I guess Columbus said something like that once, only he said it in Italian."

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

What a delightful read! I used this for a summer school theme for my kids (www.bluegrassprincesses.com) and we had so much learning about the 7 World Wonders as well as finding Wonders in our own hometown!

The narrator was loveable and relatable, telling the story of being "bored" in his simple hometown and thinking that adventure only lay in the bigger world around him which was out of reach. The story was written beautifully, capturing the small town and era in such a realistic way. The characters were hilarious and memorable. And the "Wonders," while not at all expected, were magical.

I would recommend this book to any children who are bored with their circumstances because it may change their perspective on the world around them.

[Dawn Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great YA book (that I found in my friends son's room). I quick read, it none-the-less makes you think.

This is the story of Eben, a young boy growing up in rural Missouri who dreams of getting out of Sassafras Springs and seeing the world. When his dad makes him a deal (taking the train to visit relatives in Colorado on his own) to find the 7 wonders of Sassafras Springs, Eben sets out and ends up seeing and learning more about the place he lives in that he bargained for.

Great story. Helps you to remember to alwats look around you and appreciate what you have and where you live NO MATTER where that place happens to be!!

YA~7-11

[Tim · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daughter and I greatly enjoyed our visit to Sassafras Springs, where young Eben, enchanted by a book on the seven wonders of the world, is challenged by his Pa to find seven wonders closer to home. That home is 20s rural Missouri and the wonders are wonderful, indeed almost mystic and mythical at times. The pace of the book is deliberate, but Eben is a generous narrator and the characters and stories he meets fill him with respect for the small town he thought he knew so well. It was good to read aloud and moving at times (at least to this sentimental soul).

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I read this aloud to Keira, age 9 3/4, and we both found it lovely, gentle, and warm. It paints a vivid picture of early 20th century rural America, with apple pies cooking on windowsills, boys playing pranks, tall tales being passed around town, and long hours milking cows and working the land. My favorite “wonder” involved a haunted table that floated through a graveyard.

[Tanya · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a very sweet book. It reminded me of the stories by journalists that "every person has a story". The main character discovers that there is more to life than just what is in books, and exploration is possible in your home town.

[Cory · Rating 4 out of 5]

neah its ok i guess... what am i sayin in sucks big time

[Sharidan · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love the look for "wonders" in sassafrass springs. I learned that everything is something great.

[Kyra · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this book! I read it a long time ago though so I'm going to re read it. Normally I don't re read but this book was so good that I just have to re read it.